Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

The crew of the Pearson 36 *Uma* successfully removed the vessel's keel to address long-standing grounding damage and structural delamination at the keel joint. After drilling through the keel to access the original 12 bronze J-bolts, the team used a custom-built drill bit to clear resin and debris, eventually separating the keel from the hull. They replaced the original hardware with eight one-inch stainless steel bolts, installing them with JB Weld to ensure 100% thread engagement and structural redundancy. To reinforce the keel stub, the crew applied seven layers of fiberglass and approximately 20 kilograms of resin, utilizing a vacuum bagging technique to remove air bubbles and ensure a uniform, high-strength laminate. The repair process involved tapering the glass layers into the hull to create a continuous, reinforced structure. The project concludes with the keel stub significantly stronger than the original factory specification.

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